Abdul-Karim Zayid (abdul-karim_zayid@bah.com)
Fri, 15 Jan 1999 19:25:14 +0100
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 19:25:14 +0100 From: Abdul-Karim Zayid <abdul-karim_zayid@bah.com> Subject: [ifets] Re: ifets-digest V1 #90
As I read through this discussion it occured to me that we need to have
a definition of learning styles. It goes beyond audio, visual, and
kinesthetic (spelling). When working with adults, David Kolb's model of
experiential learning helps me understand how adults learn. Some people
prefer to learn through doing (activities in groups), some through
watching (objective, impartial reflection), some through thinking
(analysis and drawing conclusions, generalizations), and some through
trying (experimental actions, exploring new possibilities). The key is
understanding these are preferences. And each preference has strengths
associated with them. All students use skills from each of these areas,
but most have strong preferences about the way they would like to learn.
Consequently, they make choices about how they will learn and what they
will learn based on these preferences.
Certain professions may lean more toward a particular style than others.
For example, engineers, scientists, and computer scientist may prefer
to learn through thinking. Social professionals like education, social
services may prefer to learn through doing (group interaction). These
generalizations will not hold true in all situations. The point is that
people do have preferences. As I understand, the key to structuring a
learning experience is to use appropriate methods to work with all
preferences. However, when dealing with an individual one-on-one,
educators must understand what that persons preference is and use
language, examples, etc that make is easier for the individual to learn.
Of course, when you have an individual that is strong in all four
preferences, then it can be difficult to know "how to speak to them" or
which preference to speak to them through.
The only other thing for us to consider, as educators, is what is our
learning style preference? and do we structure learning experiences to
work with our preference only or do we include methods to "speak" to all
preferences?
Zayd Abdul-Karim
Booz Allen & Hamilton
McLean, VA
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